South Korea Court Rules Climate Law Unconstitutional

South Korea's Constitutional Court has ruled that the country's climate law is unconstitutional, marking a significant victory for youth activists. The court found that the absence of legally binding greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2031 to 2049 violates the rights of future generations and imposed an excessive burden on them. It mandated that the government amend the law by February 28, 2026, or it will cease to be effective. The ruling follows a series of lawsuits initiated by 255 plaintiffs, including children and an embryo, who argued that inadequate climate commitments infringe upon their constitutional rights. The court upheld the government's 2030 target to reduce emissions by 40% but criticized the lack of long-term planning beyond that date. This landmark decision is the first of its kind in Asia, setting a precedent for future climate litigation in the region.